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Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) attended the February 5, 2015 inspection. Coors owns <br />the land within the bond release area. <br />The Division conducted an additional inspection on February 24, 2015 due to an error in the data <br />collected during the February 5, 2015 inspection. Please see the Observations and Findings <br />section below for details. <br />II. CRITERIA AND SCHEDULE FOR BOND RELEASE <br />PHASE <br />Rule 3.03.1(2)(a) states, "Up to sixty percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released when the <br />permittee successfully completes backfilling, regrading, and drainage control in accordance with the <br />approved reclamation plan." With regard to Phase I bond release, the approved reclamation plan for the <br />Keenesburg Strip Mine calls for backfilling and grading the open pits to the approved post mine <br />topography. While actively mining, CEC mined two pits: the A and B -Pits. CEC is no longer actively <br />mining at the site, and is presently permitted to dispose of ash and mine waste rock into A and B -Pit. <br />When ash and mine waste rock disposal activities are complete within a parcel, CEC is required to place <br />at least six feet of overburden on top of the ash and mine waste rock material. The final elevation <br />contours are designed to provide maximum air space volumes for ash and mine waste rock disposal <br />operations in each pit cell. Given this, the approved final topography of the site varies from the <br />approximate original contour to accommodate the ash and mine waste rock disposal activities. The Final <br />Reclamation Contour and Drainage Plan Map (Appendix Q -1) depicts the approved post mine <br />topography. The appendix Q -1 map has been designed to improve and promote positive surface water <br />drainage away from both the A -Pit and B -Pit cells areas. The Appendix Q -1 map depicts the drainage <br />establishment plan. <br />III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />PHASE <br />The bond release areas encompass a portion of B -Pit. The surrounding topography is relatively flat with <br />very small rolling hills and drainages. The reclaimed area blends in well with the surrounding <br />topography and has been backfilled and graded to create a very small hill with gentle slopes. The top of <br />the hill is near the center of the bond release parcels. Runoff from the bond release parcels drains to the <br />east and west. Water will runoff as sheet flow on the eastern side of the reclamation parcels. On the <br />western side of the bond release parcels, water runs off into a small drainage that transports the water <br />north. <br />Area 30 was graded, topsoiled and seeded in the fall of 2006. Area 31 was graded, topsoiled and seeded <br />in the fall of 2009. Area 32 was graded in the fall of 2013. As discussed above, CEC has been granted a <br />variance from re- establishing the approximate original contour and the approved post mine topography <br />has been designed to accommodate ash and mine waste rock disposal operations. In order to ensure <br />compliance with the permit requirement to replace at least six feet of overburden on top of the ash and <br />mine waste rock, CEC has created reference poles that are six feet in length. CEC installs these poles <br />Page 4 of 8 <br />